BOOK 1

PSALM 1

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

2But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4The wicked are not so,

But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the wicked will perish.

The Word of Faith Brings Salvation

1Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

18But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

And their words to the ends of the world.”

19But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation,

By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

20And Isaiah is very bold and says,

“I was found by those who did not seek Me,

I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

21But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

1) How do Psalm 1 and Romans 10 describe the transformation that occurs when יהוה’s Word is internalized?

2) In what way does Paul’s teaching expand Moses’ message about the nearness of the Word?

3) How does faith, when joined with obedience, fulfill the purpose of Torah being written on the heart?

PSALM 17

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

1Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.

2Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;

Let Your eyes look with equity.

3You have tried my heart;

You have visited me by night;

You have tested me and You find nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

4As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips

I have kept from the paths of the violent.

5My steps have held fast to Your paths.

My feet have not slipped.

6I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;

Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

7Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,

O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand

From those who rise up against them.

8Keep me as the apple of the eye;

Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

9From the wicked who despoil me,

My deadly enemies who surround me.

10They have closed their unfeeling heart,

With their mouth they speak proudly.

11They have now surrounded us in our steps;

They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.

12He is like a lion that is eager to tear,

And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

13Arise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low;

Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

14From men with Your hand, O Lord,

From men of the world, whose portion is in this life,

And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;

They are satisfied with children,

And leave their abundance to their babes.

15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;

I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

Retribution for Israel’s Sin

1Israel is a luxuriant vine;

He produces fruit for himself.

The more his fruit,

The more altars he made;

The richer his land,

The better he made the sacred pillars.

2Their heart is faithless;

Now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars

And destroy their sacred pillars.

3Surely now they will say, “We have no king,

For we do not revere the Lord.

As for the king, what can he do for us?”

4They speak mere words,

With worthless oaths they make covenants;

And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

5The inhabitants of Samaria will fear

For the calf of Beth-aven.

Indeed, its people will mourn for it,

And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it,

Over its glory, since it has departed from it.

6The thing itself will be carried to Assyria

As tribute to King Jareb;

Ephraim will be seized with shame

And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel.

7Samaria will be cut off with her king

Like a stick on the surface of the water.

8Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed;

Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars;

Then they will say to the mountains,

“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;

There they stand!

Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?

10When it is My desire, I will chastise them;

And the peoples will be gathered against them

When they are bound for their double guilt.

11Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh,

But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke;

I will harness Ephraim,

Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

12Sow with a view to righteousness,

Reap in accordance with kindness;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord

Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

13You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,

14Therefore a tumult will arise among your people,

And all your fortresses will be destroyed,

As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle,

When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

15Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off.